Corb7 International February 17, 2021 Newsletter

International Business

Feature

How to Manage Your Online Reputation

Today’s small business owners face unique challenges that business-people of yesteryear never had to confront. While the internet has made it possible for even the smallest businesses to have a global footprint, it’s also forced business owners to devote substantial time to managing their online reputations.

A company’s online reputation can have a major impact on its ability to survive and thrive. In its 2018 “Local Consumer Review Survey,” BrightLocal, a United Kingdom-based company that focuses on the needs of digital marketing agencies and local businesses, found that 91 percent of consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. In addition, the survey found that 57 percent of consumers won’t use a business that has a star rating of fewer than four stars.

The BrightLocal survey underscores the effort small business owners must put into managing their companies’ online reputations. Whether business owners feel their online reputations are warranted or not, ignoring them can greatly affect their bottom lines. The following are a handful of simple ways business owners can manage their companies’ online reputations in the hopes of benefiting their businesses and expanding their customer base.

· Don’t ignore negative reviews. Small Biz Ahead, a service from the insurance provider The Hartford that aims to help business owners manage and grow their businesses, advises business owners to acknowledge negative reviews. Respond privately to customers, apologizing for their unsatisfactory experience and thanking them for their feedback. When communicating with customers, always keep these communications friendly and constructive. Dismissive, confrontational and/or rude interactions with customers will only further damage your online reputation.

· Actively monitor your reputation. Websites such as Yelp and Google, via its Google Reviews capability, give customers plenty of places to go to share their comments about your business. Stay up-to-date on these, making a concerted effort to monitor your reputation. If you’re open for business seven days a week, chances are customers will be reviewing your business seven days a week. Reach out to customers who had negative experiences as soon as possible, and report any comments you feel violate websites’ standards the moment you see them.

· Don’t hesitate to ask customers to edit their reviews. When you successfully reach out to customers who left negative reviews, don’t hesitate to ask them to consider editing their reviews. Many customers are happy to update their reviews if issues were promptly and successfully addressed.

Online reputation management is important for today’s business owners. Though managing online reputations can seem like a full-time job, a positive reputation can greatly benefit your bottom line.

International Business

Business Psychology

Entrepreneurship and Depression

Owning your own business is a dream that many have and some actually explore.  Over the last decade or so, entrepreneurship.has become trendy and cool.  As with many things, however, reality is often much different than expectations.  Speaking from personal experience, owning a business can be difficult and at times lonely as you face its various challenges.   We think the benefits far outweigh any negatives but that does not diminish the stark reality that depression can hit hard.  Thus, we thought it important to offer these perspectives from several entrepreneurs that we respect and who present their ideas in an entertaining way.

Gary Vaynerchuk 

International Business

  Business Tools

The American Express Rose Gold Card!

Back by popular demand, the Rose Gold American Express Card – once issued as limited edition – is now available .  Here’s more details in the video above.

Lifestyle

Executive Fitness

Importance of Annual Health Exams!

COVID-19 has made it necessary for many of us to place basic health exams on hold.  This cannot be good, so we thought it an excellent time to review the need for all of us to have annual physical exams.

Annual health exams are a key component of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A person may not see the need to visit the doctor if he or she is feeling well, but not every disease or condition manifests itself in a way that men and women can detect. According the Unity Point Clinic, nearly one-third of the 133 million Americans living with a chronic disease are unaware of the presence of their conditions. Routine physical exams can detect serious illnesses before they do much damage.

No two physical exams will be exactly alike, but many will share some general features.

Health History
A crucial element of a physical exam will include a thorough health history if the physician doesn’t already have one on file. The doctor will take time to ask questions about family history of illness, health habits, any vices (smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.), exercise schedule, and diet. If there is a possible hereditary health condition running through your family, the doctor may suggest certain testing and make note of potential signs to look for in the future.

Current Ailments 
After discussing a patient’s history, the doctor may ask if they are having any problems they cannot explain. These can include changes in eating or sleeping patterns; aches and pains; lumps or bumps and other abnormalities. Again, the presence of symptoms may be indicative of illness or physical changes, but not all diseases produce obvious symptoms.

Vital Signs
A doctor will check a patient’s vital signs during the physical. Areas the doctor will look at include but are not limited to:

· Heart rate: This measures the speed at which the heart is pumping. Normal resting heart rate values range from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

· Blood pressure: A blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer) will measure systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure measures the force with which the blood is pushing through the arteries. The diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries between beats, when the heart rests. The systolic (top number) should be below 120, while the bottom should be less than 80, according to the Mayo Clinic.

· Respiration rate: The doctor will measure the number of breaths taken in a minute. WebMD says between 12 and 16 breaths per minute is normal for a healthy adult. Breathing more than 20 times per minute can suggest heart or lung problems.

· Pulse oximetry: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine says pulse oximetry is a test used to measure the oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of the blood. It is a measure of how well oxygen is being sent to the parts of your body furthest from your heart. Normal pulse oximeter readings usually range from 95 to 100 percent. Values under 90 percent are considered low.

Physical Exam 
The examination will also include physical components. The doctor will perform a visual inspection of the skin and body for any abnormalities, such as the presence of skin cancer. The physician may feel the abdomen to check that internal organs are not distended. Females’ physical examinations may include breast and pelvic exams.

Comprehensive Testing 
In addition to the exam at the office, the physical may include an electrocardiogram, or EKG, to check electrical activity of the heart; blood count and cholesterol checks through bloodwork; body mass index testing; X-rays or MRIs and bone-density tests.

Physical exams remain an important part of staying healthy. Consult with a doctor for more preventative maintenance tips.

Lifestyle

International Spirits & Cuisine

Healthy & Delicious Frozen Foods!

COVID-19 and the potential of food shortages made us all reexamine our thoughts about freezing food.  Freezers are often unsung heroes of kitchens. Too often foods enter a freezer only to be forgotten before being exhumed from blocks of ice and discarded months later. But putting the freezer to better use can improve the way people eat and add to the flavor of the foods they enjoy.

Some people may turn up their noses at frozen foods, feeling that they lack the freshness of unfrozen foods. But that’s not necessarily true. According to the food science department at the University of Florida, technology behind frozen food processing enables fast freezing times and prevents the formation of large ice crystals that can damage cells in fruits and vegetables. Food processors pick produce at the peak of ripeness and then the foods are quickly frozen, rendering them in a state of suspended animation. That means the food will not ripen further or rot like fresh food might if it’s not consumed immediately.

Fresh produce that is shipped is often picked ahead of time to account for long shipping times and time spent in the produce section of grocery stores. Enzymes break down sugars and other compounds, destroying color, texture and nutrients.

Another advantage to frozen foods is the cost. Many items can be purchased for reasonable prices, often lower than fresh varieties, like frozen vegetables at around a dollar per bag/box. And because the frozen foods will remain fresh until they are used, shoppers don’t risk waste from throwing out perishables unnecessarily.

When using frozen foods in recipes, follow package directions on whether to thaw or cook directly from the freezer. Also, when saving extras or leftovers, be sure to properly seal them in an airtight container to preserve freshness. Look for special freezer-safe bags and containers.

It’s also possible for home cooks to create their own frozen food inventory from gardens and potted herbs, and by breaking down “club-sized” meat and poultry packs into portioned servings to use throughout the week. These items may have a slightly shorter freezer shelf life than professionally frozen foods because home cooks cannot achieve a flash-freeze like commercial manufacturers. When storing meat, the United States Dietary Association recommends that you store different types of meats in the freezer for no longer than these durations:

· Ground meat: 3 to 4 months

· Pork chops: 4 to 6 months

· Fish: 6 months

· Beef, veal, and lamb steaks: 6 to 12 months

· Poultry: 9 months

Frozen foods can be healthy and convenient. Don’t let their packaged nature fool you; frozen foods are healthy and delicious.

Lifestyle

Living & Traveling Offshore

6 Tips for Seniors to Travel Safely

One of the perks of getting older is having more time to devote to recreation and traveling.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are roughly 52 million people who are age 65 or older in the United States. With a $1.6 trillion total net worth, seniors spend more on groceries, pharmaceutical items and travel and leisure than any other demographic.

Age does not have to restrict one’s ability to travel, and with age comes experience and more opportunities to enjoy travel. Before taking off for parts unknown, men and women over 50 can take steps to ensure their excursions are as safe as they are memorable.

1. Consider risk. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 taught the world that situations can change rapidly. Before booking any travel, weigh the risks and the benefits of a trip. Determine if COVID-19 is spreading where you live or at your destination. Older adults have a higher risk for severe illness caused by the virus. Until you are vaccinated, it may be best to wait to travel.

2. Use senior-friendly services. Seek out travel services that offer the best perks for older adults. Many travel providers no longer offer senior discounts, but they may offer other benefits, such as early boarding or assistance with traveling from gates to baggage areas.

3. Get travel insurance. According to Liz Dahl, cofounder of Boomer Travel Patrol, a website featuring expert advice geared toward the Baby Boomer demographic, travel insurance can be essential for older travelers. Older travelers may be more at risk of falling or getting sick and some may need extra medication if travel is interrupted or delayed. Travel insurance can provide extra coverage for a relatively low price if something goes wrong.

4. Don’t advertise your absence. It may be tempting to upload photos of your beachside vacation to social media as you are immersed in paradise. Unfortunately, seniors tend to be targets for thieves because they are seen as vulnerable. Don’t make the job easier by advertising you are away from home. In addition, have a neighbor periodically pick up your mail and set lights on timers to give the impression you are home even when you’re not.

5. Share your itinerary. Keep loved ones apprised of your general travel itinerary, especially if you are traveling solo, recommends AARP. Keep a mobile phone on you at all times.

6. Pack copies of important documents. In the event paperwork is lost while traveling, request copies of prescriptions and/or statements of medical conditions from each physician and medical treatment center so you have a second set. Keep copies of your passport, driver’s license, insurance cards, travel tickets, and other documents as well.

Seniors have the ability to travel much more than other age groups. Make the experience enjoyable by focusing on safety.

Business Services

Business Acquisitions

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALE!

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Established in the year 1908
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* 90-Year-Old Swiss Trust Company
Established 1931
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